Who will be the next French PM? Jean Castex resigns today; Prez Macron to name new one soon
Premium- As per French media, Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne is the favourite for the PM's post
French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Monday resigned from the post in an expected move following President Emmanuel Macron's re-election last month. And a replacement will be named soon. As per French media, Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne is the favourite.
Castex visited Elysee presidential palace on Monday to formally offer his resignation to the president, who accepted the offer. Macron is expected to name a new prime minister shortly.
Macron and his new prime minister will then hold talks in order to appoint France's full new government in the coming days.
The new prime minister's first mission will be to make sure that Macron's centrist party and its allies do well in France's parliamentary election in June. The vote, scheduled for two rounds, will determine which group holds the majority of seats at the National Assembly, which has the final say over the Senate in France's law-making process.
Macron also promised a bill addressing the rising cost of living in France, where food and energy prices are surging. It will be prepared by his new government and is expected to be presented just after the parliamentary election.
If Macron's party wins a majority in the Assembly, the prime minister will then need to ensure that pension changes promised by the president are put into law, including raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65. The proposed changes have been criticized by workers, unions and left-wing voters.
Macron also promised that the new prime minister would be directly in charge of “green planning," seeking to accelerate France's implementation of climate-related policies. Macron vowed to go “twice as fast" in his second term to curb greenhouse gas emissions
(With inputs from agencies)